Petr Zápařka

Developer Growth Beyond the Code

Not new frameworks, but judgment. Knowing which problem is worth solving. Knowing when to say no to a feature. Nobody shows you how to think like a senior. I want to shorten that gap.

I’ve been a tech lead and contractor for twenty years. The thing that took me longest to figure out is that the code itself is usually the easiest part. The hard part is knowing what to build, when to push back, and how to stay calm when everything is on fire.

Start here

These are the pieces I’d point you to first.

  • From “This Is Annoying” to “This Works for Everyone”

    You’re about to learn a skill you’ll use in every tough discussion with stakeholders, teammates, or anyone blocking your progress. And the best part, it’s very simple. As developers, we are not just writing code. Big part of our job is the communicatingwith your peers, business analyst, product managers, stakeholders.And whether we like it or…

  • 3 essential books to become a great developer

    Did you ever wonder which books you should read about development? Books that are still relevant despite the advances in computer technology?I looked at the books that help me the most with my career and that are still relevant today. Clean code by Robert C. Martin This book is an essential book that shows you…

  • What are top 3 skills of senior dev and why coding is not one of them

    I’ve been a software developer for over two decades now. I worked with companies like Microsoft, Jaguar, Skype, and HMTCS. So either I’m full of beans, or there is something in what I’m about to tell you. Coding is not a top skill for a senior developer. It needs to be a top skill for…

  • How to evolve as a developer without moving to management

    An article that I wrote for Welcome to the Jungle magazine.

All growth writing